Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-14

the Cabinet and their Intimate aouuaiut-
ahce. No birth in official circles In years
mas given rise to so much talk as that of
the present Cabinet ''bud." as many
women seem to delight in calling the
little infant. They also say It Is an I'M
usually handsome child for its
age. Every woman in Wash
ington is looking forward to
the christening with, If possible,
even deeper interest than Jim Blaine
manitests IN the coming Presidential
election, Secretary Whitney is just
crazy over his new born heir. Ever since
It's birth he has transacted nearly all
ms Official business in a library adjoining
the apartment occupied by his wife. A
regular army train OF clerks is TO be seen
at all hours OF the day marching between
the Secretary's house and his office in the
public buildings. 1t almost broke his
heart this week when he was compelled
TO run over to New York for a few hours
ana leave the little one behind at the
capital. When the child was only three
Gays Old he trium pnantly took her from
the nurse to show some friends, and then,
before returning his precious burden, car
rIed her all over the house on her first
Tour OF inspection, and 1t is safe TO say he
has had her in his arms every spare
moment since. Ii is nine years since the
little girl, who died abroad, was born, and
Mrs. Whitney has nearly for
gotten all the baby rhymes with
which all mothers are familiar.
Mrs. Whitney has received several let
ters from friends In Cleveland asking her
to call the baby Flora Payne. 1t was
Mrs. Whitney's name before she married,
and they would like to lave the name
perpetuated. Mrs. Payne, mother of Mrs.
Whitney, tells that when she Mrs. Whit
ney) was born there was great rejoicing
on both sides Of the family aud much dis
cusslon about name for her-so much
so that 1t was two years before she was
named. Her grandfather, Nathan Perry,
was passionately fond of flowers, and one
day sent her gold bracelet inscribed
with the name Flora. The name was re.
jected at first, but was finally adopted.
Mrs. Payne has a name to suggest for the
present'baby, but objects to it because it
is stately In Its suggestion and trne
romantic. 1t Is her own name-Leonora.
Quite number of letters have been re-
ceived by Mrs. Whitney asking her to
name the baby Frances Cleveland Whit
ney, after the Presidents wife, but how
she receives the suggestion is not
known. Mrs. Burton Harrison gave Mrs.
Whitney the recipe for the drink called
caudle, which it is Southern custom to
serve to invited guests when the child is
three weeks old. The invitations were
won't to bear the word "caudle" in the
corner of the card, and everybody knew
what that meant. AS soon as ever the
name is selected there will be a royal
christening party. 1t is rumored that
Secretary ana Mrs. Whitney Will give a
ball on the occasion which will eclipse
in splendor anything OF the kind before
seen in Washington. 1t will probably
occur the latter part OF this month or the
first week in March. Expectation is rife
as to who will be asked
to stand sponsors for the baby,
the prevailing opinion being that this
honor will be conferred either by the
President and Mrs. Cleveland or some OF
the Cabinet, 1t isl SAID that the President
idOllZes that baby and takes the deepest
interest in her welfare, and considers her
the brightest jewel in the diadem of the
Democracy and the administration. This
fact has led to the somewhat facetIous
suggestion from Senator Brown, of Geor-
gja, that the christening be made the
occasion for placing another rose in the
pathway leading TO the reconciliation of
the North and South. In this cOnnec-
ton he suggests that the little one be
called Francis Mildred Whitney, after
Mrs. Cleveland and the daughter of Gen.
Lee. Mrs. Cleveland and Miss Winnie
Davis would have to stand as godmothers
and Generals Sheridan and Joseph Z.
Joshnston as godfathers. A detachment
from the Grand Army OF the Republic
and another from the Army OF Northern
Virginia might be relied upon to preserve
order during the christening ceremonies.
The diplomatic corps would have to be
on hand In court dress, the Supreme
Court in their robes of office, both houses
of Congress, followed by the leaders of the
german and the regents OF the Smith
sonian. Nothing should be left undone
to make Cabinet Bud day national holi-
day.